Rapid traverse pressure unit



y 1947 H. H. MERRIMAN RAPID TRAVERSE PRESSURE UNIT Filed April 6, 1944 Patented May 27, 1947 Henry H. Merriman,

Harry I). Boardman,

trustee Jackson, Mic assignor to Jackson, Mich, as

Application April 6, 1944, Serial No. 529,783 4 Claims (01. 74-4243) The present invention relates to improvements in inexpensive, simplified, quick acting pressure devices which may be employed in clamps, jigs, fixtures, vises and the like.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character which may be inexpensively manufactured, comprises a minimum number of parts, avoids close tolerances, and is capable of being manufactured for the most part on automatic equipment.

These and other objects residing in the const'ruction, combination and arrangement of parts will more fully appear from a consideration of the following specification and the appended claims.

In the drawing, wherein one form of the invention is illustrated,

.Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the associated parts of the device threaded into the member shown in vertical cross section, the device being shown in locked position,

Fig. 2 is aview similar to Fig. l with the device shown unlocked in a position to be withdrawn,

Fig. .3 is a cross-sectional view through the thrust bar taken on line IIIIII of Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow,

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 taken on line IVIV of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 4.

Quick acting clamp and pressure applying devices of the general character disclosed are well known and take many forms. Reference may be had to Patents No. 754,962, No. 823,017 and No. 1,045,745 showing disclosure of similar devices.

Referring to the drawing, part II], which may be part of a vise, clamp, jig, fixture or the like, has an internally threaded bore 12 to receive the externally threaded bearing block it. Preferably the bearing block M has an unthreaded head 16 at one end thereof.

As more clearly shown in Fig. 5, there are two different size cavities within the bearing block I2. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, the cavity l8 may be extended throughout substantially the threaded portion of the thrust block l2, while the cavity 20 is smaller than the cavity 18 and extends through the head It.

The shape and size of the cavities is and 20 depend on the shape and size of the thrust bar 22, and it is to be understood that the form of the thrust bar 22 may be varied. As shown, the

I 2, 7 bar 22 is .made' from square bar. stock and turned at spaced points along its length to provide alternate square portions 24' and cylindrical portions 26. At one end of the bar 22 is a pressure foot portion 28 and at. the opposite end a suitable handle shown in the form of a knob 30.

The head 16 is preferably 7 p v slots '34 and 3'6 which may be milled or otherwise provided. Between thes1ots'3'4 and 3B are abutments 38. From Figs. .3 and 4 it will be noted that the cavity 20 is square to conform to the shape be further noted that are angularly disposed to the sides .of the slots 34 and 35. By making. the slots 34 and 3BIof a width approximately the width of the cavity 20* and the bar 22, the corners 4B of the abutments 38 will be extensionsof the sidesof the cavity 20 and will be located to oneside of the midpoint of the sides to permit partial rotation of thebar 22 before the corners of the portion 24 engage the abutments 3B. I

The operation of the device described is as follows. As shown in .Fig'. 5, the cavity 'l8is preferably drilled to a" diameter slightly excess of the distance across the corners of the square portion 24 to guide the bar '22 for back and forth movement through the cavity 20 with the bar 22 in the aligned or unlocked position shown in Fig. 4. In this position the corners 40 also function as guides to pilot the bar 22 smoothly through the similarly shaped cavity 20. To lock the bar 22 to the bearing block 14 for unitary rotative movement, it is only necessary to partially rotate the bar 22 with any one of the reduced portions 26 in radial alignment with the reduced cavity 20. With the parts so positioned counter-clockwise movement of the bar 22, as viewed in Fig. 4, will result in partial rotation to the locked position shown in Fig. 3. In the locked position axial thrust of the bar 22 is delivered by the radial sides of the corners of the portion 24 to the bottom portion of the slots 34 and 36 overlapped thereby. As shown in Fig. 3, the partial rotation of the bar 22 has been arrested through engagement between the corners 40 of the head It. Further rotational movement of the bar 22' in the same direction will rotate the thrust block l4, advancing the bar 22 and block M as a unit with the mechanical advantage of the screw. For rapid withdrawal of the bar 22 thereafter, rotation of the bar 22 in the opposite direction will bring the portion 24 back into axial alignment with the cavity 20, as shown in Fig. 4, and the bar 22 may be axially slid relative to the bearing block 14.

formed with res of the bar 22 which slides therein. It will the sides of the cavity 2!! In this operation the corners 48 function as aligning stops terminating relative rotation and then as guide or pilots for smooth axial movement of the bar 22.

Having thus described my invention what I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim is:

1. A rapid traverse screw advance pressure unit assembly, comprising an externally threaded thrust collar adapted to be supported in a threaded aperture and having a cylindrical axially extending chamber extending through substantially the entire length of said collar, a transverse wall at one end of said collar and defining one end of said chamber, a noncircular opening defined in said wall of reduced cross section as compared with the cross section of said chamber, a thrust bar having a noncircular portion adapted to be moved axially through said opening and held in one position of axial alignment therewith and having axial and radial clearance with said chamber in all positions of relative rotation and axial movement, a portion of reduced transverse cross section upon said bar adjacent said noncircular portion and having at least partial rotational clearance with said noncircular portion when disposed in the radial plane thereof, said noncircular portion of said bar upon'partial rotation of said reduced portion in the plane of said opening overlapping a portion of said wall defining said open ing to transfer the thrust of said bar to said collar, an axial projection on said wall adjacent said opening with which said noncircular portion of said bar engages as a stop on partial rotation in one direction to interlock said collar and bar for unitary rotation, and a second axial projection on said wall and engaging said noncircular portion of said bar as a stop upon partial rotation in the opposite direction to axially align said non circular portion of said bar with said opening for rapid axial traverse of said bar relative to said collar.

2. A rapid traverse crew advance pressure unit assembly, comprising an externally threaded thrust collar adapted to be supported in a threaded aperture and having a cylindrical axially extending chamber extending through substantially the entire length of said collar, a transverse wall at one end of said collar and defining one end of said chamber, a noncircular opening defined in said wall of reduced cross section as compared with the cross section of said chamber, a thrust bar having a noncircular portion adapted to be moved axially through said opening and held in one position of axial alignment therewith and having axial and radial clearance with said chamber in all positions of relative rotation and axial movement, a portion of reduced transverse cross section upon said bar adjacent said noncircular portion and having at least partial rotational clearance with said noncircular portion when disposed in the radial plane thereof, said noncircular portion of said bar upon partial rotation of said reduced portion in the plane of said opening overlapping a portion of said wall defining said opening to transfer the thrust of said bar to said collar, an axial projection on said wall adjacent said opening with which said noncircular portion of said bar engages as a stop on partial rotation in one direction to interlock said collar and bar for unitary rotation.

3. A rapid traverse screw advance pressure unit assembly, as defined in claim 2, wherein said noncircular and reduced portions of said bar are alternately arranged along said bar with said noncircular portion being spaced a distance slightly greater than the distance of said transverse wall at the point of overlapping between said noncircular portion and said Well.

4. A rapid traverse screw advance pressure unit assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said trans verse wall is defined at one end of said collar, and said interlocking stop is defined. by a depression in said wall.

HENRY H. MERRIMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 986,464 Jack Mar. 14, 1911 823,356 Oslund June 12, 1906 

